Washing-machine



(No Model) 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

E. W. ALLEN.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 605,987. Patented m 21,1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. W. ALLEN. WASHING MACHINE.

. Patented June 21,1898.

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ATENT ERAsMUs w. ALLEN, or HOLTON, KANSAS.

WASHING- MACHINE.

SIEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,987, dated June 21,1898. Application filed November 18, 1897. Serial No. 658,981. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERASMUS W. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Holton,in the county of Jackson and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Washing- Machine, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in washing-machines. p

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofwashing-machines and to provide an exceedingly simple and inexpensiveone which will be capable of rapidly and thoroughly'washing clotheswithout injuring them and with the least possible labor. 7

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a washing-machineconstructed in accordance with this invention, the cover being closed.Fig. 2 is a similar view, the cover being open. Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view, the parts being arranged as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional View.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings.

l designates a washing-machine body, pref erably consisting of acylindrical tub of galvanized iron; but it may be constructed of woodand have any other preferred shape, and it is provided with a horizontaltop 2, to which is hinged a rectangular cover 3. The top 2, which ispreferably constructed of segmental keepers, forms a rectangularopening, and the cover fits between cleats 4, which are secured to thetop 2 at three of the sides of the rectangularvopening, one of themhaving the cover hinged to it. At the other side of the rectangularopening is arranged a wringersupporting board.

The washing-machine body is provided at its bottom, which may becorrugated, with horizontal bars 6, arranged at right angles to eachother, extending entirely across the bottom and forming arubbing-surface adapted to be engaged by clothes during the operation ofwashing and capable of exerting a rubbing action on them. One of thebottom bars is continuous and the other is preferably constructed of twosections arranged at opposite sides of the continuous bar.

The top of the washing-machine body is supported by vertical bars orposts 7, mounted .upon the ends of the horizontal bars 6 at the loopsand adapted to receive clothes to enable them. to be positivelyconnected with the agitator when it is necessary to exert an excessiverubbing action on them. This construction enables the more soiledfabrics or portions thereof to be thoroughly and rapidly washed. Theloops or arms 10, which are tapering or V-shaped, have straightdownwardly-converging sides and form distinct tapering openingsto enableclothes to be readily wedged in them, so as to make a secure attachment.When the agitator is operated, the clothes rotate with it and are thrownoutward against the sides of the body, the bars 6 and posts '7 partiallyretarding them, and thereby producing the necessary rubbing action.

The shaft 9, which passes through a central bearing-opening of thecover, has its upper portion bent at an angle and arranged at aninclination to form a crank-arm 11, and the lower end of the shaft ispassed through a central perforation of the agitator and is bent to forman L-shaped arm or hook 12, which extends along the lower face of theagitator to support the latter and projects upward into a perforation orsocket of the same. The arm or hook 12 is driven into the agitator,which is preferably constructed of wood, and by this construction theshaft and the agitator are cheaply and securely connected.

The cover is supported and strengthened by a lower cleat 13 and an upperblock 14. The cleat 13 is secured to the lower face of the cover andinterposed between the same and the agitator, and the block is arrangedon the upper face of the cover. The shaft is capable of verticalmovement to enable it to adjust itself to the contents of the body andbear upon the clothes being washed, and its downward movement is limitedby a collar or flange 15, arranged at the upper end of the verticalportion of the shaft and adapted to prevent the loopshaped arms fromcoming in contact with the horizontal bars of the i The upper end of thebottom of the body. straight crank-arn1 is provided with a suitablehandle 16, and the said crank-ar1n, which is disposed at an inclinationwhen the cover is closed, is adapted to be rotated to operate thewashing-machine. The cover is fastened in its closed position by pivotedbuttons or other suitable fastening devices,and the washing-machine bodyis provided with a suitable drain-opening in which is arranged aremovable plug.

The invention has the following advantages:

The washing-machine is exceedingly simple and inexpensive inconstruction, and it is capable of quickly and thoroughly washingclothes at the expenditure of a minimum amount of labor.

lVhen the body is constructed of sheet metal, it is adapted to serve asa boiler and may be placed upon a stove or used in condetails ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is- In a washingvmachine, the combination of awashing-machine body having a rubbingsurface, a cover having abearing-opening, an agitator, and a shaft extending through thebearing-opening of the cover and having its upper portion bent at anangle and arranged at an inclination to form a crank, the lower end ofthe shaft being passed through the agitator and bent at an angle to forma substantially L-shaped arm or hook arranged on the lower face of andsupporting the agitator and extending into and engaging the same,whereby the agitator is rigidly connected with the shaft, substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ERASMUS lV. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

G. G. EVERI-IARI), R. J. LINSCOTT.

